Virgil van Dijk’s then-record-breaking transfer to Liverpool in 2018 has become one of the most transformative in Premier League history.

However, seven years on, an ex-Southampton executive in charge of the deal has admitted he is embarrassed by the saga in hindsight.

AFP

Van Dijk completed a then-world record transfer for a defender when he sealed a £75million move to Liverpool in January 2018.

He instantly endeared himself to the Kop by scoring an 84th-minute winner on his debut against rivals Everton in the FA Cup.

Giovanni Leoni ‘as good as Van Dijk’

Liverpool fans fittingly got their first look at Leoni during the club’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Semmens’ old club, Southampton.

The Italian hugely impressed on his first appearance since his £26m move from Parma before he suffered an injury.

Liverpool will be desperate for Leoni to have avoided any major setback, having already started to deliver on Semmens’ high praise.

Semmens helped bring the 18-year-old to Parma from Sampdoria last year and revealed the centre-back is Van Dijk’s successor in waiting.

“Yeah, absolutely for me [Leoni is the heir to the Van Dijk throne],” Semmens told Matterface, Crook & Deeney on talkSPORT.

“During my second year there in the summer, we signed players like [Newcastle defender] Tino Livramento, who was with Southampton, and I have a genuine fondness for these young talents. Romeo Lavia was a similar acquisition.

“I think it was clearly the best young centre back in Italy, if not Europe. And again, we sold him the vision to come to our club to play in Serie A.

“I think it was 17 when he started playing, and then when the right moment comes, you will go.

“We had a similar understanding with the goalkeeper we brought in, [Zion] Suzuki, the Japanese keeper. Man United showed interest in buying him. That’s a rumor I can partially confirm.

Getty

Getty

His standout showing against Southampton was brought to an early end by injury[/caption]

“The expectation was that they would probably stay longer than a year, but Leoni’s talent level was so high, and this really showcases Liverpool’s keen ability to identify such prospects.

“Several other Premier League clubs inquired about him – not in my capacity as an Executive for Parma as I had left by that point – and I shared my views, but they didn’t pursue it. Liverpool, however, never reached out to me.”

“Five or six Premier League teams asked me,” Semmens added. “I told them he’s as good as Virgil.”

“Liverpool never called me, never asked for a reference, because they’ve got such an ability to find those players. Top player!”